1. A process in which a substrate having a surface which bears substrate pendant functional groups is coated with a coating composition containing a polymer formed from a radical polymerisable monomers including a radical polymerisable zwitterionic monomer and a radical polymerisable monomer containing a reactive group to form a polymer having zwitterionic groups and pendant reactive groups and the said pendant reactive groups are reacted to form covalent bonds with said substrate pendant functional group and thereby form a stable coating of polymer on the said surface, and wherein
said zwitterionic monomer has the general formula I
YBX(I)
wherein B is a straight or branched alkylene, oxaalkylene or oligo-oxaalkylene chain optionally containing one or more fluorine atoms up to and including perfluorinated chains, or if X contains a carbon-carbon chain between B and the centre of permanent position charge or if Y contains a terminal carbon atom bonded to B, a valence bond;
X is a zwitterionic group selected from groups IVB, IVC, IVD, IVE and IVF in which group IVB has the formula
30
wherein the groups R6 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl and d is from 2 to 4;
group IVC has the formula
31
where the groups R7 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl, and e is from 1 to 4;
group IVD has the formula
32
wherein the groups R are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl, R8a is hydrogen or a group C(O)B1R8b wherein R8b is hydrogen or methyl, B is a valence bond or straight or branched alkylene, oxaalkylene or oligo-oxaalkyene group, and f is from 1 to 4; and if B is other than a valence bond z is 1 and if B is a valence bond z is 0, if X is directly bonded to an oxygen or nitrogen atom and otherwise z is 1;
group IVE has the formula
33
wherein the groups R9 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl, R is hydrogen or a group C(O)B2R, wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, B2 is a valence bond or a straight or branched alkylene, oxaalkylene or oligo-oxaalkylene group, and g is from 1 to 4; and
if B is other than a valence bond z is 1 and if B is a valence bond z is 0 if X is directly bonded to an oxygen or nitrogen atom and otherwise z is 1; and
group IVF has the formula
34
wherein the groups R10 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C alkyl, R is hydrogen or a group C(O)B3R10b wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, B3 is a valence bond or a straight or branched alkylene, oxaalkylene or oligo-oxaalkylene group, and h is from 1 to 4; and
if B is other than a valenue bond z is 1 and if B is a valence bond z is 0 if X is directly bonded to the oxygen or nitrogen and otherwise z is 1; and
Y is an ethylenically unsaturated polymerisable group selected from
35
wherein:
R is hydrogen or a C1-C1 alkyl group;
A is O or NR1 where R1 is hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl group or R1 is BX where B and X are as defined above; and
K is a group (CH2)pOC(O), (CH2)pC(O)O, (CH2)pOC(O)O, (CH2)pNR2, (CH2)pNR2C(O), CH2)pC(O)NR2, (CH2)pNR2C(O)0, (CH2)pOC(O)NR2, (CH2)pNR2C(O)NR2, (in which the groups R2 are the same or different) (CH2)pO, (CH2)pSO, or, optionally in combination with B, a valence bond and p is from 1 to 12 and R2 is hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl group, and
said radical polymerisable monomer containing reactive groups has the formula general formula (XII)
Y2B7-Q3(XII)
where Y2 is an ethylenically unsaturated polymerisable group selected from
36
where R26 is hydrogen or C1-C1 alkyl;
T is O or NR27, wherein R27 is hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl group or R27 is a group B7Q3;
B7 is a valence bond a straight or branched alkylene oxaalkylene or oligo-oxaalkylene group;
K2 is a group (CH2)qOC(O), (CH)qC(O)O, (CH2)qOC(O)O, (CH2)qNR20, (CH2)qNR20C(O), (CH2)qC(O)NR20, (CH2)qNR20C(O)O, (CH2)qOC(O)NR20, (CH2)qNRC(O)NR (in which the groups are the same or different), (CH2)qO, or (CH2)qSO, or a valence bond and q is from 1 to 12 and R is hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl group; and
Q3 is a reactive group selected from the group consisting of aldehyde groups; silane and siloxane groups containing one or more substituents selected from halogen atoms and C1-4-alkoxy groups; hydroxyl; amino; carboxyl; epoxy; CHOHCH2Hal (in which Hal is selected from chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms); succinimido; tosylate; triflate; imidazole carbonyl amino; optionally substituted triazine groups; aceloxy; mesylate; carbonyl di(cyclo)alkyl carbodiimidoyl; and oximino.
2. A process according to claim 1 in which Q3 is selected from the group consisting of aldehyde, reactive silane and siloxane amino, epoxy, CHOHCH Hal (in which Hal is halogen), succimimido, tosylate, triflate, imidazolecarbonyl amino and optionally substituted triazine groups.
3. A process according to claim 1 in which the surface pendant groups are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl and amine groups.
4. A process according to claim 1 in which the polymer is formed from 2-(methacryloyloxyethyl)-2-(trimethylammonium) ethyl phosphate inner salt and 2-aminoethylmethacrylate and in which the covalent bonding of the pendant amino group is to a surface having pendant carboxylate groups is achieved through the formation of an amide linkage.
5. A process according to claim 1 in which the said radical polymerisable monomers include a comonomer of the general formula VI
Y-Q(VI)
where Y is an ethylenically unsaturated polymerisable group selected from
37
where R14 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C4 alkyl,
A is O or NR where R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl groups and groups Q;
K1 is selected from the group consisting of (CH)1OC(O), (CH)C(O)O, (CH2)OC(O)O, (CH2)1)NR16, (CH2)1NRC(O), (CH2)C(O)NR16, (CH2)1NR16C(O), (CH2)1OC(O)NR, (CH2)1NRC(O)NR in which the groups R16 are the same or different), (CH2)10, (CH2)1SO3 and a bond, in which 1 is from 1 to 12 and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C4 alkyl groups; and
Q is selected from the group consisting of straight and branched alkyl, alkoxyalkyl and (oligo-alkoxy)alkyl groups containing 6 to 24 carbon atoms, any of which groups is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more fluorine atoms and optionally contains one or more carbon-carbon double or triple bonds; and
siloxane groups (CR16a2)qq (SiR16b2) (OSiR16b2)ppR16b in which each group R16a is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and aralkyl groups, each group R is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, qq is from 1 to 6 and pp is from 0 to 49.
6. A process according to claim 5 in which
38
in which R14 is methyl and A is O and Q is an alkyl group of the formula (CR172)CR172, wherein the groups (CR172) are the same or different and in each group (CR172) the groups R17 are the same or different and each group R17 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-4-alkyl and fluoroalkyl and fluorine and m is in the range 5 to 23.
7. A process according to claim 6 in which the said comonomer is selected from the group consisting of n-dodecyl methacrylate, octadecyl methacrylate, hexadecyl methacrylate, 1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate, p-octyl styrene, p-dodecyl styrene and monomethacryloxypropyl terminated siloxanes.
8. A process according to claim 7 in which the said comonomer is dodecyl methacrylate.
9. A process according to claim 1 in which the said radical polymerisable monomers include a diluent monomer selected from the group consisting of C1-4-alkyl(alk)acrylates, N,N-dialkylamino alkyl(alk)acrylates containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms in each N-alkyl group and 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkylene group, C1-4-alkyl(alk)acrylamide, hydroxy C1-4alkyl(alk)acrylate, N-vinyl lactam having 5-7 atoms in the lactam ring, styrene, derivatives of styrene having ring substituents selected from C-alkyl groups and halogen atoms, polyhydroxyl (alk)acrylates, alkenes, butadiene, maleic anhydride and acrylonitrile.
10. A process according to claim 9 in which the diluent monomer is selected from hydroxy C1-4-alkyl(alk)acrylates and polyhydroxyl(alk)acrylates.
11. A process according to claim 1 in which the said radical polymerisable monomers include at least 5% by weight zwitterionic monomer and at least 0.1% by weight monomer having a reactive group.
12. A process according to claim 9 in which the said radical polymerisable monomers include at least 5% by weight zwitterionic monomer, at least 0.1% by weight monomer having a reactive group and 5 to 20% by weight diluent monomer.
13. A process according to claim 5 in which the said radical polymerisable monomers include at least 5% by weight zwitterionic monomer, at least 0.1% by weight monomer having a reactive group and 5 to 90% by weight of said comonomer.
14. A biocompatibilising process in which a substrate having a surface which bears substrate pendant functional groups is biocompatibilised by coating it with a coating composition containing a polymer formed from a radical polymerisable monomers including a radical polymerisable zwitterionic monomer and a radical polymerisable monomer containing a reactive group to form a polymer having zwitterionic groups and pendant reactive groups and the said pendant reactive groups are reacted to form covalent bonds with said substrate pendant functional group and thereby form a stable coating of polymer on the said surface.
15. A process according to claim 14 in which the zwitterionic group is a group X selected from groups IVB, IVC, IVD, IVE and IVF in which group IVB has the formula
39
wherein the groups R are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl and d is from 2 to 4;
group IVC has the formula
40
where the groups R7 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl, and e is from 1 to 4;
group IVD has the formula
41
wherein the groups R are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl, R is hydrogen or a group C(O)B1R8b wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, B1 is a valence bond or straight or branched alkylene, oxaalkylene or oligo-oxaalkyene group, and f is from 1 to 4; and if B is other than a valence bond z is 1 and if B is a valence bond z is 0, if X is directly bonded to an oxygen or nitrogen atom and otherwise z is 1;
group IVE has the formula
42
wherein the groups R9 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1-C1 alkyl, R9a is hydrogen or a group C(O)B2R9b, wherein R9b is hydrogen or methyl, B2 is a valence bond or a straight or branched alkylene, oxaalkylene or oligo-oxaalkylene group, and g is from 1 to 4; and
if B is other than a valence bond z is 1 and if B is a valence bond z is 0 if X is directly bonded to an oxygen or nitrogen atom and otherwise z is 1; and
group IVF has the formula
43
wherein the groups R10 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl, R is hydrogen or a group C(O)B3R10b wherein R10b is hydrogen or methyl, B3 is a valence bond or a straight or branched alkylene, oxaalkylene or oligo-oxaalkylene group, and h is from 1 to 4; and
if B is other than a valence bond z is 1 and if B is a valence bond z is 0 if X is directly bonded to the oxygen or nitrogen and otherwise z is 1.
16. A process according to claim 14 in which the pendant functional group on the polymer is a group Q3 selected from the group consisting of aldehyde groups; silane and siloxane groups containing one or more substituents selected from halogen atoms and C1-4-alkoxy groups; hydroxyl; amino; carboxyl; epoxy; CHOHCH2Hal (in which Hal is selected from chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms); succinimido; tosylate; triflate; imidazole carbonyl amino; optionally substituted triazine groups; aceloxy; mesylate; carbonyl di(cyclo)alkyl carbodiimidoyl; and oximino.
17. A process according to claim 15 in which the pendant functional group on the polymer is a group Q3 selected from the group consisting of aldehyde groups; silane and siloxane groups containing one or more substituents selected from halogen atoms and C1-4-alkoxy groups; hydroxyl; amino; carboxyl; epoxy; CHOHCH2Hal (in which Hal is selected from chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms); succinimido; tosylate; triflate; imidazole carbonyl amino; optionally substituted triazine groups; aceloxy; mesylate; carbonyl di(cyclo)alkyl carbodiimidoyl; and oximino.
18. A process according to claim 16 in which the pendant functional group is selected from the group consisting of aldehyde, reactive silane and siloxane amino, epoxy, CHOHCH2Hal (in which Hal is halogen), succimimido, tosylate, triflate, imidazolecarbonyl amino and optionally substituted triazine groups.
19. A process according to claim 17 in which the pendant functional group is selected from the group consisting of aldehyde, reactive silane and siloxane amino, epoxy, CHOHCH2Hal (in which Hal is halogen), succimimido, tosylate, trif late, imidazolecarbonyl amino and optionally substituted triazine groups.
20. A process according to claim 14 in which the surface pendant groups are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl and amine groups.
21. A process according, to claim 14 in which the zwitterionic group is a group of formula IVC
44
where the groups R7 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl, and e is from 1 to 4;
the pendant functional group of the polymer is an amine group and
the pendant functional group on the substrate surface is a carboxyl group and in which the said covalent bond which is formed is an amide bond.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. In a die transfer system for transferring workpieces between successive die stations in a stamping press, said system including a transfer bar having workpiece engaging devices mounted thereon, a support member for moving said transfer bar in a lateral direction towards and away from said die stations and connectible to said transfer bar, and a support assembly for reciprocating said support member in said lateral direction towards and away from said die stations, said support assembly including a support body on which said support member is slidably mounted for movement in said lateral direction and a lateral drive system for moving said support member relative to said support body in the lateral direction, said die transfer system further comprising a carriage assembly for reciprocating said support assembly in a vertical direction, said carriage assembly including a movable carriage body on which said support body is mounted for vertical movement and a vertical drive system for moving said support body relative to said carriage body in the vertical direction, the improvement wherein said support body is constructed substantially of aluminum alloy panels and adhesive rigidly connects together said aluminum alloy panels to form the support body.
2. A die transfer system according to claim 1 wherein said support body has a vertical body section and a horizontal body section extending rearwardly from a bottom end portion of said vertical body section and said vertical body section is constructed of vertically extending front and rear panels, vertically extending side panels, and a series of horizontally extending, spaced-apart connecting panels, the latter extending between and connecting said front and rear panels, substantially all of said panels being constructed of aluminum alloy.
3. A die transfer system according to claim 2 wherein said connecting panels include a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least three spaced-apart intermediate connecting panels located between said top panel and said bottom panel and having edge flanges formed thereon for bonding said connecting panels to the front, rear and side panels.
4. A die transfer system according to claim 2 wherein said aluminum alloy comprises aluminum alloy 6061.
5. A die transfer system according to claim 2 wherein said adhesive comprises Dev-thane 5.
6. A die transfer system according to claim 2 wherein said side panels form two vertical flange sections that extend rearwardly from said rear panel and two vertical guide rails are mounted respectively along rear edges of said flange sections.
7. A die transfer system according to claim 6 wherein said support body includes two aluminum alloy, support brackets projecting inwardly towards one another and each connected along one edge to a respective one of said flange sections, a horizontal support plate extending rearwardly from a central section of said rear panel and supported by said support brackets, and a ball nut mounted in said support plate, said ball nut being part of said vertical drive system.
8. A support assembly for use in a die transfer system for transferring workpieces between successive die stations, said support assembly during use of said die transfer system being movable vertically on a carriage assembly and movably supporting a transfer bar having workpiece engaging devices mounted thereon, said support assembly comprising a support body adapted for slidably mounting a horizontally extending support member having a forward end on which said transfer bar is mounted during use of said die transfer system, said support body being constructed substantially of aluminum alloy panels and adhesive which rigidly connects together said panels, and a drive system for moving said support member relative to said support body.
9. A support assembly according to claim 8 wherein said support body has a vertical body section and a horizontal body section extending rearwardly from a bottom end portion of said vertical body section and said vertical body section is constructed of vertically extending front and rear panels, vertically extending side panels, and a series of horizontally extending, spaced-apart connecting panels, the latter extending between and connecting said front and rear panels, substantially all of said panels being constructed of aluminum alloy.
10. A support assembly according to claim 9 wherein said connecting panels include a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least four spaced-apart intermediate connecting panels distributed between said top panel and said bottom panel.
11. A support assembly according to claim 9 wherein said aluminum alloy comprises aluminum alloy 6061-T6.
12. A support assembly according to claim 9 wherein said adhesive comprises Dev-thane 5.
13. A support assembly according to claim 9 wherein said connecting panels include a bottom panel member forming a bottom end of said support body, including a bottom of the horizontal body section, and wherein said support assembly includes ball slides for slidably connecting the support member to said bottom panel member so that support member is located at least substantially below the support assembly.
14. A support assembly according to claim 13 wherein said drive system includes a servo motor mounted on said vertical body section, a drive pulley operatively connected to said servo motor, and a drive belt extending around said drive pulley and connectible to said support member, said drive belt extending through an aperture formed in said bottom panel member.
15. A support assembly according to claim 14 wherein at least a major portion of said servo motor is mounted within said vertical body section and said servo motor is located in a lower half of said vertical body section.
16. A support assembly for use in a die transfer system for transferring workpieces between successive die stations in a stamping press, said support assembly during use of said die transfer system being movable on a support apparatus of the die transfer system and movably supporting a transfer bar having workpiece engaging devices thereon, said support assembly comprising a support body adapted for slidably mounting a support device having an end on which said transfer bar can be mounted, said support body having a vertically extending body section with an upper end and a bottom end, a front side adapted to face towards one side of said stamping press during use thereof, a vertical rear side, and a vertical guide rail arrangement for facilitating vertical movement of said support body relative to said support apparatus, said body section including a first front panel forming said front side, a second panel extending vertically and spaced from said front panel, two side panels extending between and connecting said first and second panels and located on opposite sides of said body section, and a series of spaced apart, connecting panels extending between and rigidly joining said first and second panels, said connecting panels including a horizontally extending, bottom panel with at least one aperture formed therein, said support assembly further including a belt drive system for moving said support device relative to said support body, said belt drive system including a drive motor mounted to and supported by said body section, a drive pulley operatively connected for rotation by said drive motor and located within said body section, and a drive belt extending around said drive pulley and adapted for connection to said support device, said drive belt in use extending through one of said at least one aperture in the bottom panel for connection to said support device.
17. A support assembly according to claim 16 wherein said connecting panels extend substantially horizontally during use of the support assembly and include a top panel and at least three intermediate panels distributed between said bottom and top panels.
18. A support assembly according to claim 16 wherein said support body includes a horizontally projecting body section extending from a bottom end section of said vertically extending body section and having a rearwardly facing side substantially covered by a vertical panel section.
19. A support assembly according to claim 17 including a vertical, central partition wall located between said two side panels and providing support for said drive motor, said partition wall being fixedly connected to at least two of said connecting panels.
20. A support assembly according to claim 16 wherein said front panel has a plurality of access openings formed therein and has a plurality of access plates for covering said openings during use of said support assembly, at least some of said access plates being removable.
21. A support assembly according to claim 16 wherein said body section including at least most of said panels are made of aluminum alloy 6061 and each of said panels is fixedly connected to one or more adjacent panels by a suitable, strong adhesive.
22. A support assembly according to claim 21 including a vertical channel having a width extending most of the width of said support body, one side of said channel being formed by said second panel, a horizontal support plate mounted in said channel approximately midway between said bottom and upper ends of the vertically extending body section and having a central aperture, and a ball nut for a vertical drive unit mounted in said central aperture in said support plate.
23. A support assembly according to claim 22 including two aluminum alloy support brackets extending inwardly towards each other and each connected to a respective one of two vertical edge flanges formed on said second panel, said support brackets being connected to said horizontal support plate along a rear edge thereof and supporting same.
24. A light weight support assembly for use in a die transfer system for transferring workpieces, said support assembly during use of the die transfer system being movable by a power drive unit, said support assembly comprising a support body adapted for movably mounting a support member and including outer panels forming exterior sides of the support member and connected to one another along adjacent edges thereof and interior connecting panels extending between and connecting at least two of said outer panels, said outer panels and connecting panels being made substantially of aluminum alloy and being rigidly connected together by a suitable adhesive, said support assembly further including at least a drive component of said power drive unit mounted on said support body.
25. A support assembly according to claim 24 wherein said aluminum alloy is aluminum alloy 6061.
26. A support assembly according to claim 24 wherein said adhesive comprises Dev-thane 5.
27. A support assembly according to claim 24 wherein said outer panels include top and bottom panels and two opposing side panels and said connecting panels include at least three, spaced-apart intermediate panels distributed between said top and bottom panels and substantially parallel thereto.
28. A support assembly according to claim 24 including vertical, spaced-apart rails mounted on the exterior of said support body in order to facilitate and guide vertical movement of the support assembly caused by said power drive unit during use of said die transfer system.
29. A support assembly according to claim 24 wherein said support assembly includes a rigid support member slidably mounted on a bottom end of said support body and adapted for horizontal movement during use of the transfer system and a horizontal drive system for moving said support member horizontally relative to said support body, said horizontal drive system including a drive motor mounted on or in said support body.
30. A support assembly according to claim 29 wherein said drive motor is an electric servo-motor having at least a major portion thereof located within said support body, within a lower half section of said support body, and between two of said connecting panels.
31. A support assembly according to claim 25 where said aluminum alloy is aluminum alloy 6061-T6.